Mik Gerylo came on to chat today about how COVID-19 has impacted his racing season, his plans for racing in the United States, as well as how he trains as a full-time teacher. Hear how this high-level performer tackles his training in the Great White North and how the venues in Canada prepare our neighbors to the north for the US's hardest venues like Big Bear and Vermont.
Get your toaster strudels and BBQ rice cakes ready, this was a good chat!
Be sure and follow Mik on Instagram and watch this stud athlete dominate the race scene (whenever we're allowed to race again)!
23 Jun 2020
Natalie Miano and Navigating the Waters of Injury
Natalie Miano (https://www.instagram.com/ocrmommy/?hl=en) came on the podcast to talk about her stellar performance in Jacksonville before COVID 19 shut down all races for an indefinitely amount of time, and how in that time period she made a conscious decision to undergo a necessary surgery for her health and how that surgery ended up sidelining her indefinitely (https://www.instagram.com/p/CBdmnLNgieh/) as the incisions didn't heal properly. Other things we discuss:
- Her support network that's helping her get through this
- Listening to her husband, Marc Batres, and seeing significant improvements in her performance
- How Marc's training has had a significant impact on getting people qualified for Boston as well as taking a rag-tag high school track team to competing for championships
- How running at a high level and remaining injury free is impossible
- Her rehabilitation plans and how she's been training
- An OCR friends and family get together in West Virginia even if the race is cancelled
Natalie wanted to give a shout out to not only her husband Marc Batres and his coaching business (https://www.mgb-racing.com/coach-mark) for helping her improve so much as well as VJ Shoes (https://vjshoesusa.com/collections/shoe) and how much she misses running in them.
19 Jun 2020
Ian Hosek and Sony's missed opportunity at "Spider Goat"
What happens when you get two people with ADD/ADHD together on a podcast? A podcast about nothing, but at the same time, SHEER AWESOMENESS. I'm back from vacation and it's time to crank out more podcasts. Thought I was going away? Wrong. I'm here to stay, bitchachos (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bitchacho).
In this episode, Ian and I discuss
- Spider goats, duh
- His time working at Nike and Hammer Nutrition
- His coaching business
- His first OCR event and an oversized t-shirt made for Sven
- Living in Driggs, ID
- How many people caught COVID 19 in Jacksonville as well as the next real Spartan Race on the calendar
- Pooping your pants
Be sure to check out Ian on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ocr_hosek/?hl=en) for his eccentric ways or ask him questions about how you can run faster and longer (https://www.hosekpe.com). MATH.
5 Jun 2020
Corinna Coffin - The First One
In the longest episode of the podcast, Corinna Coffin (https://www.instagram.com/cscoffin13/?hl=en) and I chat about:
- Her athletic pedigree
- Her transition through different types of fitness including OG Spartan Races, Battlefrog, the Crossfit Games, TMX, and now Spartan Stadium Races and Deka Fit
- An update on the status of Deka Fit (https://deka.fit) and the Deka Mile
- A brief chat about performance nutrition
Another podcast will be forthcoming with Corinna talking exclusively about nutrition. If you're interested in learning more about how to eat to perform, or just working on your personal nutrition, feel free to reach out to Corinna through her website or read her blog on Yancy Camp (https://www.yancycamp.com/yc-nutrition-blog/).
1 Jun 2020
Jason West - The Baddest CWO
I had a chance to chat with Jason West (https://www.instagram.com/baddestcwo/?hl=en) about his transition from wayward youth, to the Marine Corps, to car stereo audio guru, and eventually to Spartan Race. Listen to this beast of an athlete talk about:
- His secret underground home gym
- His love of ice cream
- His first time doing an elite Spartan Race
- Making a PT Cruiser cool (https://images.app.goo.gl/m2q21qgfBH68LVMm6)
- Bumpin' and Grindin' down in Daytona
- What this guy does with all of his podium checks
All that to say Jason is an awesome dude with big goals on his mind. Not for fame, and not for greatness in the sport, but to do great things with a wife and family that keep him grounded. Special thanks to the people that support this athlete, Elite Ops Energy Strips (https://eliteopsenergy.com), Oscar Mike (https://www.oscarmike.org), Yogi and Jeff from Team Strong As Oak (https://strongasoak.net/?fbclid=IwAR2h1w7BkuGg1m1qYNc86EcQ1qlVeTEA_V1kz0iyUATa2kbpxtG31Rhu7mA), and VJ Shoes (https://vjshoesusa.com).
29 May 2020
Nicole Mericle - Spartan Warrior Princess
Had a chance to catch up with your defending 2019 Spartan World Champion Nicole Mericle, who is spending her time building her strength and logging some sweet runs, but also how her career in OCR wasn't so smooth. In this episode we talk about:
- The bullshit in Tahoe in 2017 that knocked Mericle out of contention for a podium spot at her first Spartan Race World Championship
- How Hoont the Sheriff (https://www.instagram.com/huntthesheriff/?hl=en) helped her focus in on her strength training to start being a consistent podium threat
- Boyfriend Benji (https://www.instagram.com/boyfriendbenji/) and #VanLife
- An update on the #SpartanPROtest
- Developing the women's field in Spartan Race
- Gummy bears
- Our mutual love for Alt Red by Sur (https://sur.co/altred/) and how it is FAR superior to beet juice #NoPoopyPants
Check Nicole out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nickeldm/?hl=en) and be jealous of her van life and chorizo tacos... oh and that sweet mane of hers. Look for her to repeat as your 2020 Spartan Race World Champion.... or keep the crown for a second year if there is no 2020 championship
26 May 2020
Hunter Russell, Deep in the 'Heart' of Texas
You may know Hunter Russell as "the other guy that touched the truss in Jacksonville" but here's what you don't know:
- Hunter is a high school cross country coach
- He's used his post-secondary education to take his teams to Texas state meets
- He has a rare heart condition that makes his heart rate drop considerably during exercise at times
- He logs low training mileage because of this condition and still turns in podium placements at races
- Asheville sucked in the best way possible
Check Hunter out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hunterrussell2/)and shoot him a message if you have training questions! This guy knows his shit and will gladly talk training/human performance with you!
22 May 2020
Faye Morgan (not Stenning)
Faye Morgan (not Stenning) took time out of her busy day to talk with me about:
- The Spartan email
- Serving our nation in the USMC
- Her diversified sports background
- Transitioning into Crossfit and then into Spartan Race
- Sharing a master's podium with Hobie Call in his last race
- Mom life and how fulfilling it is (special guest appearance by the adorable Scout)
- How the COVID19 break was a welcome reprieve for her
- What her new COVID19 skill is
Not to mention we talked about how amazing Altra shoes (https://www.altrarunning.com) are and threw much love and appreciation at our mutual coach Ian Hosek (https://www.hosekpe.com) and her second coach Yancy Culp.
Sign up for OCR coaching with Faye Morgan (not Faye Stenning) through Yancy Camp here (https://www.yancycamp.com/ocr-athlete-faye-morgan/)! Follow Faye Morgan on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fayemocr) and Strava (https://www.strava.com/athletes/27058142?oq=faye%20morga)
21 May 2020
The Legend of Kevin Donoghue and the Puka Shell Necklace
This OG bro has done it all. Semi-professional football, extreme skiing, North Face challenges, and one of the very first Spartan Races in 2011. Listen to how those experiences laid the foundation for KDON's success in Spartan Race and get to know the co-host of OC-Are You Serious?
Things we discuss in this episode:
- Spartan extending annual pass through 2021
- Kevin Gillotti
- Doing what it takes to get through the pandemic
- Bro hugs on Zoom chats
- Proper hydration before podcasting
- Casa de Donoghue and those lucky enough to behold its magnificence
Follow KDON on Instagram or go watch some of his broadcasting highlights.
19 May 2020
Nick Ryker's Island
In this episode, I chat with the infamous Nick Ryker on his rise to the top tier of the Spartan Elite category. From humble beginnings in Atlanta to a near top-5 in Jacksonville, this guy has put in the work so that his idols have become his rivals.
Other things we discuss include:
- The future of the USNS
- Summoning the ghost of Joe DI
- Giving Uncle Joe DeSena a TERRIBLE idea for NorAMs
- How to fuel your body properly
- A potential bunker for the zombie apocalypse
- The legacy of Amelia Boone
- Floating ribs
Follow Nick on Instagram! And will someone please sponsor this guy?
15 May 2020
Alex Walker, Texas Ranger
Got a chance to catch up with the amazing Alex Walker about how she's been spending her time during the COVID 19 pandemic to discuss how she's kept herself motivated as well as other tips and tricks to adapt to races at altitude, how Whoop helps her focus in on recovery after her hard workouts, as well as in-race tips to mentally perform well. She also recommends Perfect Bars as her protein-rich dessert during the pandemic, so I naturally ordered a few boxes of them.
Check out Alex on her Strava and Instagram, and also feel free to sign up with her on Yancy Camp (all links below)!
https://www.strava.com/athletes/17767489?oq=Alex
https://www.instagram.com/alexandra_celeste_walker/
https://www.yancycamp.com/ocr-athlete-alex-walker/
12 May 2020
Trailer Episode
The beginning of mediocrity. Stay tuned for more fun this year with amazing co-hosts and guests!
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